Psychological research seems to indicate that self-esteem and personality are closely intertwined. Personality types are often measured according to the five-factor model, also known as the Big Five. The Big Five is a personality model based on five key personality characteristics, as its name implies. Studies have found a correlation between low self-esteem for those people who score negatively and high self-esteem for those who score positively, according to the Big Five personality model. A strong association between depression and low self-esteem is also indicated by these studies. Ideas about self-esteem and personality appear to be based on society's notions of good and bad behavior.
Personality is generally believed to be a person’s enduring patterns of thought, emotion and behavior. The Big Five became a widely recognized personality model in the 1980s and 1990s, and Big Five studies have been conducted in 56 nations and 29 languages. The five personality traits are conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness and extraversion.
To remember the Big Five, people often think of the word canoe. Conscientiousness refers to reliability, organization and discipline, while agreeableness indicates a person’s attitudes toward other people, including the ability to empathize, trust and be helpful. Emotional stability, sense of security, and personal satisfaction are considered measures of levels of neuroticism. Openness represents levels of imagination, intellect and independence. Extraversion refers to the ability to be social and affectionate.
Psychological studies based on the Big Five personality model have found a correlation between self-esteem and personality. Self-esteem is often defined as a person’s assessment of his or her value as a human being. Not surprisingly, people who say they are conscientious, agreeable, not neurotic, open new experiences, and extraverted have higher levels of self-esteem. Conversely, those people who are careless, disorganized, suspicious, self-pitying, conforming and reserved generally have lower levels of self-esteem.
People often view self-esteem as being an intrinsic notion of self-worth that does not vary too much. Studies seem to indicate, however, that mental health affects levels of self-esteem. Depressed people were found to have lower levels of self-esteem, so it would seem that effective treatment of depression could raise levels of self-esteem.
More importantly, it would appear that definitions of self-esteem and personality are based on some values favored by society and experts in psychology, rather than a personal sense of worth. For instance, an organized, disciplined person is valued in the workplace and society in general, while a disorganized, impulsive person is not. A calm person, with a secure sense of self is also valued in society, while an anxious, insecure, self-pitying person is not.
